Position description
The Manager, Knowledge & Editorial ensures that FSD Africa’s communications are grounded in credible insight and used deliberately to influence how key market actors and stakeholders think and act. The role converts organisational Learning and Development Impact evidence into clear, usable material that strengthens positioning and supports purposeful policy / strategy engagement. Working across programmes and in close collaboration with Development Impact and Communications colleagues, the Manager shapes evidence into coherent narratives, equips leaders with robust materials for external engagement, and establishes practical knowledge workflows that ensure learning is captured, accessible and applied. In doing so, the role enables communications to inform strategy and influence rather than respond reactively.
Reports directly to - Director, Strategic Communications & Engagement
Direct reports - Consultants engaged on projects
Contract Type - Full-time, Permanent
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLE REQUIREMENTS
1. Strategic Influence & Positioning Support
Contribute substantively to the development of Communications & Engagement strategy, bringing evidence-based insight that strengthens delivery of FSD Africa’s strategic goals.
- Work with the Director and Communications team to analyse programme portfolios and identify priority audiences and spheres of influence across pillars.
- Collaborate with Development Impact colleagues to gather relevant evidence, data and insights that inform positioning and influence priorities.
- Support the definition of influencing goals linked to policy / strategy windows and programme outcomes.
- Contribute to the development of influence strategies and messaging frameworks aligned to agreed objectives.
- Develop structured content plans aligned to agreed strategic and influencing priorities.
2. Institutional Learning & Evidence Synthesis
Translate organisational experience and Development Impact evidence into clear, credible insight that directly supports delivery of FSD Africa’s strategic goals.
- Establish regular engagement with pillar teams and Development Impact to capture emerging lessons, including practitioner and ‘voices from the field’ insights.
- Review research outputs, evaluations and programme documentation to extract transferable learning.
- Distil complex technical material into concise insight briefs and thematic summaries suitable for different audiences.
- Identify recurring cross-cutting themes relevant to market systems development.
- Ensure synthesised insights are structured and shared in ways that inform decision-making and communications planning.
3. Content Development & Editorial
Produce clear, credible content and apply FSD Africa’s editorial standards to ensure consistency and quality across communications.
- Draft and structurally edit substantive materials including case studies, briefing notes and core knowledge products.
- Commission and manage external writers or editors where specialist input is required.
- Develop and uphold editorial standards, templates and style and branding guidelines across knowledge products.
- Review content produced across the organisation to ensure clarity, analytical coherence and consistency of voice.
4. Knowledge Systems & Asset Stewardship
Design and sustain knowledge systems and practices that protect institutional memory and enable efficient retrieval and utilisation of evidence and insight.
- Design structured workflows for capturing, curating and archiving lessons and evidence from programmes and reviews.
- Develop and maintain repositories of insight, proof points and knowledge assets.
- Create clear filing, tagging and referencing practices to support ease of retrieval.
- Work with Communications & Engagement colleagues to ensure knowledge materials are stored, updated and maintained within agreed systems.
- Promote consistent use of knowledge systems and practices across pillars and teams.
5. Senior Support & Strategic Enablement
Support the Director and Senior Communications Manager in equipping senior leaders and pillar teams with persuasive, evidence-based narratives for purposeful engagement in policy / strategy and market forums.
- Prepare tailored briefing materials and insight summaries for senior leadership engagement.
- Work with leaders to clarify key messages ahead of policy / strategy and market engagements.
- Develop narrative summaries that link programme evidence to agreed strategic positioning.
- Coordinate with Outreach & Campaigns to align substantive content with engagement priorities.
- Provide timely, high-quality drafting support for priority external moments.
Carry out any other duties or special assignments as assigned by the Management.
Qualifications
COMPETENCIES
Competencies describe the key behaviours that drive success in all of FSD Africa’s roles, regardless of technical specialism. They have been derived from systematic research correlating performance with personal attributes.
Competency Levels
- Level 1: Basic
- Level 2: Foundation
- Level 3: Specialist
- Level 4: Senior Specialist
- Level 5: Leading Expert
- Level 6: Executive
This position requires competency at Specialist Level for all the competencies listed below:
ESSENTIAL FOUNDATIONS
Commitment & Alignment
Demonstrates commitment to serving our partners and alignment with the values and vision of FSD Africa
Change & Challenge
Has a strong sense of ownership that leads to learning, self-starting, taking initiative, driving change and leading development
ACHIEVEMENT COMPETENCIES
Situational Awareness & Thinking
Thinks clearly and intentionally, analysing information objectively, understanding issues, solving problems, and making decisions
Drive for results
Is keenly motivated to achieve goals & act with accountability to deliver quality results
PEOPLE COMPETENCIES
Relationships & Collaboration
Discerns and appreciates the values, viewpoints, or abilities of others; effectively reconciles different interests and displays emotional intelligence
Communication & Influencing
Deliberately adjusts behaviour to accommodate others; communicates clearly, confidently, and appropriately to influence others
Requirements
PERSON SPECIFICATIONS
Qualifications and Education
- Master’s degree and 6 years of experience or Bachelor’s degree and 8 years of experience in Communications, Journalism, Development Studies, Public Policy or a related field
- Professional training or proven experience in editorial practice, publishing, knowledge management or communications for development is an added advantage
Essential Experience, Knowledge, and Skills
- Demonstrated experience using communications as a tool to support systemic change, policy influence or market systems development
- Significant experience shaping complex technical or analytical material into high-quality, audience-appropriate knowledge products
- Advanced writing and structural editing skills, with the ability to clarify arguments, strengthen analytical framing and improve coherence
- Experience developing and applying editorial standards, templates and style guidelines across an organisation
- Proven ability to design and implement structured workflows for knowledge capture, curation, archiving and retrieval
- Experience working closely with technical teams, including Development Impact and MEL professionals, to package evidence and insights with a clear communications lens
- Strong understanding of how communications can support behaviour change, institutional reform and market development outcomes
- Experience managing external writers, editors or consultants to deliver high-quality outputs
- Excellent written and spoken English
- Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple workstreams while maintaining high quality standards
Desirable
- Experience working on FCDO-funded or other bilateral/multilateral donor-funded programmes
- Familiarity with financial sector development, climate finance, capital markets or related fields
- Experience operating across multiple country contexts in Africa
- Additional language skills (e.g. French or other relevant African languages)
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity:
FSDAi is committed to building a diverse organization and a climate of equity and inclusivity. We strongly encourage applications from candidates who can demonstrate that they can contribute to this goal.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status. We will ensure that all applicants are provided a fair chance to compete for available job opportunities.
Application instructions
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